Why does Trauma Effect Some People and Not Others?

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Here in Session with Dr. Connor McClenahan

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21 episodes

1 week ago

If you're like me, you're tired of social media creating artificial boundaries between us and them. Yet we share our most basic desires, fantasies, fears, defenses, and conscious human experience. The more intently we peer outward to understand another, the more we find ourselves looking inward. These conversations are topical dives into specific issues pertaining to psychology, emotion, connection, pain and human potential. Follow along to grow your understanding of yourself and the human experience.

Mental Health

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Mental Health

Health & Fitness

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Why does Trauma Effect Some People and Not Others? - Dr. CONNOR MCCLENAHAN

Here in Session with Dr. Connor McClenahan

15 minutes 31 seconds

6 months ago

Why does Trauma Effect Some People and Not Others? - Dr. CONNOR MCCLENAHAN

Trauma can feel like a heavy shadow, but why does it linger for some and lift for others? In this episode, Dr. Connor McClenahan, a licensed clinical psychologist, explains how trauma isn’t just an event—it’s a “template” that shapes how we see the world. As he shares, “Trauma is this idea that there are scary things that happen to us, and that these scary things form a template in your mind… to try to anticipate something similar happening again.” Yet, there’s hope: “The good news is that your mind is made to heal.” This conversation offers a compassionate look at why trauma affects us differently and how we can find our way back to wholeness.

From flashbacks to hypervigilance, trauma’s symptoms can feel overwhelming, but their intensity varies widely. Dr. McClenahan introduces allostatic load—the balance between stress and support—to explain why. A kind friend, a trusted therapist, or inner strength can make all the difference. He also explores the brain’s role, noting, “There’s a natural process that your mind is looking to enter into, to help it repair and heal that memory so that you can move forward.” By sharing our pain in a safe space, we transform chaos into clarity, a process he describes with care: “When we can understand that emotion not as something we need to suppress, but it’s something we need to express… so that we can heal.”

Healing is about weaving our experiences into a story of resilience, and Dr. McClenahan’s insights light the way. He asks, “The main difference that exists between people who recover from trauma and people who don’t”—and answers with the power of connection and courage. As the owner of Here Counseling, a group private practice in Pasadena and Los Angeles, Dr. McClenahan leads a team offering in-person and virtual therapy for trauma. With empathy and expertise, they create a safe space for healing. If this episode resonates, let it be a gentle nudge to explore your own path forward, knowing you’re not alone.

Here Counseling, Trauma Therapy in Pasadena

Timestamp Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Why Does Trauma Affect Some People Differently?
00:19 What is Trauma?
01:20 Symptoms of Trauma
05:13 Allostatic Load and Support Systems
10:10 The Neurology of Trauma
14:29 Healing Through Expression and Support
15:22 Conclusion and Therapy Information